00 vs 000 buckshot penetration?

[TheCoachZed]

I know this might technically belong in another sub-forum, but I figured the users of such ammo are more likely to be found here.

I have shot enough buckshot to know that pattern is the key. But I'm in an area where I can shoot legit big bucks with the stuff, 200lbers or bigger. I want to punch as deep as possible.

Would I be better off with 000 for more penetration? Anyone have practical experience? I have only used 00, in whatever flavour I could buy, on deer. Usually whatever was available with the Flite Control wad, but that's hard to find now too... and I Don't think any flite control buckshot comes with 000 shot.

 

[brybenn]

The 000 will dig a tad deeper if the lead is the same hardness. You get less pellets and less options. 00 comes in many forms and many options. Flight control wad copper plated 00buck federal premium or tactical defense is about the best on the market for hardness and pattern.
To get decent patterns with 000 you need copper plated and buffered rounds
For actually hunting I'd choose 00buck federal flight control everytime. It works well thru cylinder mod and even full chokes

On a separate comparison of 00 vs 000 I have been playing with buckshot in a converted muzzleloader. 10 pellets 00 vs 7 pellets 000 size. The 00 has always done better patterning and that extra 2 or 3 pellets in the vitals is more important than the extra inch penetration you get with the heavier ball in my opinion



This is 30 yards with my muzzleloader 12ga with 00 buck.

 

[TheCoachZed]

The 000 will dig a tad deeper if the lead is the same hardness. You get less pellets and less options. 00 comes in many forms and many options. Flight control wad copper plated 00buck federal premium or tactical defense is about the best on the market for hardness and pattern.
To get decent patterns with 000 you need copper plated and buffered rounds
For actually hunting I'd choose 00buck federal flight control everytime. It works well thru cylinder mod and even full chokes

On a separate comparison of 00 vs 000 I have been playing with buckshot in a converted muzzleloader. 10 pellets 00 vs 7 pellets 000 size. The 00 has always done better patterning and that extra 2 or 3 pellets in the vitals is more important than the extra inch penetration you get with the heavier ball in my opinion

View attachment 629869

This is 30 yards with my muzzleloader 12ga with 00 buck.

Thanks, don't know why I didn't just ask you directly.

We used to use a lot of 00 flitecontrol stuff, but I'm down to my last box of Federal, and can't find the Hornady Superperformance version anywhere.

Local shop had the last 000 buck in a day's drive radius that I could find - Remington 3-inch 000. No word on if it's buffered, so it probably isn't. I still bought it all, because it's the most powerful stuff I could find, and because CTIRE now wants $20 a box for even the cheapest stuff. Gag.

I wish I'd never sold my 10 gauge. I had a lot of 00 for that gun, and it all went with the deal.

 

[MiG25]

In my limited testing, Remington 000 in a full choke was by far the best.

 

[gyppo]

I've shot Federal 00 and 000 buck into wood and was surprised to see virtually no difference in penetration. The 000 performed marginally better. So I pulled a couple shells apart to see what the balls weighed - the 00 buck weighed about 52-53 grains which is standard, but the 000 buck balls were undersized, they only weighed 60 grains instead of the standard 70.

 

[Chas59]

I've shot Federal 00 and 000 buck into wood and was surprised to see virtually no difference in penetration. The 000 performed marginally better. So I pulled a couple shells apart to see what the balls weighed - the 00 buck weighed about 52-53 grains which is standard, but the 000 buck balls were undersized, they only weighed 60 grains instead of the standard 70.

Factory ammo buckshot sizes vary, many so called 00 buckshot is only .320 diameter, not .330. If you ever want to reload buckshot you can get amazing results, and if you cast your own shot, the hardness is up to you. Check out Bubba Rountree Outdoors on YouTube, he’s a reloader and deer hunter.

 

[0faustus0]

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1724640-Penetration-Test-II-Buckshot

 

[brybenn]

These are what I use most often. The federal tax and personal defense pattern very tight

The 3" 00 and 000 I used alot when I used to carry a shotgun during bear season but I've switched to slugs for the odd time I carry a scatter gun now.
The #4 buck is what I use for coyotes. The rem stuff isn't that great but for calling in coyotes it works well for it's intended purpose and it's cheap.
Overall I prefer slugs over buckshot but inside 30 yards buck shot will work on deer. I just prefer better blood trails. That said my current muzzleloader is set up with 10x 00 buck pellets in the right barrel and a soft cast 7/8oz slug in the left barrel

It took over 15lbs of 00buck to find a good consistent load for this particular muzzleloader

 

[TheCoachZed]

View attachment 629909
The 3" 00 and 000 I used alot when I used to carry a shotgun during bear season but I've switched to slugs for the odd time I carry a scatter gun now.
The #4 buck is what I use for coyotes. The rem stuff isn't that great but for calling in coyotes it works well for it's intended purpose and it's cheap.
Overall I prefer slugs over buckshot but inside 30 yards buck shot will work on deer. I just prefer better blood trails. That said my current muzzleloader is set up with 10x 00 buck pellets in the right barrel and a soft cast 7/8oz slug in the left barrel

It took over 15lbs of 00buck to find a good consistent load for this particular muzzleloader

Slugs are far better outside 30 yards. Unfortunately, our backwards fish and game laws in NB make buckshot necessary once you're under 400 meters away from a house, even if there's a mountain between you and you're shooting the opposite direction.

 

[brybenn]

Seems to be some strange laws on your side of the country lol

There was a member here goes by brobee223 or something similar did a few vids with buckshot actually shooting deer Maybe of interest to you.

 

[TheCoachZed]

Seems to be some strange laws on your side of the country lol

There was a member here goes by brobee223 or something similar did a few vids with buckshot actually shooting deer Maybe of interest to you.

Yeah I watched his stuff a few times.

Rules here are:

less than 100m from a house or place of business, no firearm/bow discharge
between 100m and 200m, only bows
between 200m and 400m, bows, or "shot," which includes both birdshot and buckshot
after 400m from a house or place of business, you can use slugs, rifle, bow, or shot

Well, I like to hunt the coast due to the advantages the ocean provides (boat access to hunting sites, etc.), and the problem is that people are building houses everywhere along the coast. In some places you can use a rifle, but now, bows or shotguns with buckshot are the only option in many places.